Carmelo Anthony Trade Rumors: Are 4 First Rounders Too Much To Give Up for Nets?
February 19, 2011Carmelo Anthony Trade Rumors: Are 4 First Rounders Too Much To Give Up for Nets?
Carmelo Anthony is the subject of a major trade rumor today? It's a shocker, I know. Reports are that a trade agreement has tentatively been reached by the New Jersey Nets and the Denver Nuggets.
The trade would send Carmelo Anthony, Chauncey Billups, Sheldon Williams, Melvin Ely and Renaldo Balkman to the Nets in exchange for Devin Harris, Derrick Favors, Troy Murphy, Ben Uzoh and four first-round picks.
Four first-round picks? Really? It sounded impossible at first, since teams can't trade consecutive draft picks under the Stepien rule, but the Nets actually have enough first-round picks in 2011 and 2012 to pull this off. Should they actually be trading these first-round draft picks though?
Yes 5: Carmelo Anthony Can Bring in Talent
A trade for Carmelo Anthony would give New Jersey the biggest star they've had since Vince Carter. In the right city, having a superstar can make players want to come to that team. Over the next few seasons, having a core of Carmelo and Brook Lopez, among others, could help bring in players.
It's tough to say how much success Anthony could have on this end, but I imagine he would do a better job bringing in stars than others.
No 5: Draft Picks Can Bring in Talent
With the third pick in the draft, New Jersey selected Derrick Favors. While he hasn't been amazing for the team, he's posting decent numbers for a 19-year-old rookie and has shown good energy for the Nets.
By trading away these picks, the Nets won't be able to add much youth to their roster and have it grow under Anthony. This year's draft isn't immensely strong, but the Nets could get someone like Terrence Jones and some depth with the Lakers' pick. The Rockets and Warriors' picks next year I would think would be fairly high as well.
Yes 4: Carmelo's 3-Year Extension
Carmelo Anthony, if he is traded to the Nets, would sign a three-year extension. Simply put, if the extension was not guaranteed, trading the picks would be stupid, as they would need them to fill the roster back up.
If they are able to lock Anthony up for three years, then they won't need those draft picks. After all, you know what you're getting with Carmelo; you have no idea what you might get with a draft pick.
No 4: Team Would Not Be Great Yet
When the Nets gain the players that are planned, that does not automatically make them an elite team. At 34, Chauncey Billups does not have that much left in the tank. Also, Shelden Williams hasn't stayed on one team long enough to get proper footing (five teams in five seasons, six if you count the Nets).
Melvin Ely and Renaldo Balkman will be non-factors in New Jersey, so while New Jersey is 17-40 right now, I don't see them going .500 in their remaining games if the cast stays as is. Having those draft picks could help build the team up into what the Nets want it to be now that they would have Carmelo.
Yes 3: Can't Wait for Picks To Develop
Because Carmelo Anthony will only have a three-year contract extension, that gives any picks the Nets draft three years, at most, to mature. While some picks are ready to play in the NBA immediately, most need that first year or two to develop and get better.
With Anthony in New Jersey for three seasons, the New Jersey Nets don't have time to wait for them to mature. They have to win now, and if that means they won't have young guys developing, then they'll take that if it means a championship.
No 3: Could Use Picks To Bring in Other Talent
Having four first-round picks over the next two seasons laying around is a pretty nice luxury to have. Even if you don't use them to draft young talent (which they shouldn't as I've mentioned), then they could still use them to bring in players.
Trading a draft pick or two for a couple solid starters that could complement Carmelo Anthony would be a great move and could bring Anthony that much closer to a championship. There's another reason that draft picks could be valuable trade bait, which will be noted later.
Yes 2: It's Not the Nets' Picks
The picks the Nets are trading aren't theirs? What does that mean? Of the four picks that the Nets are trading to the Nuggets, only one of them is actually theirs, and that's the first one for 2011.
The other three picks going to the Nuggets are picks from the Houston Rockets, Los Angeles Lakers and Golden State Warriors that the Nets have received for various trades over the years. This means that, in reality, the Nets are not so much losing draft picks as shipping off their surplus picks, and that could be great for them, since they'll still have picks to use to help out Carmelo Anthony.
No 2: It's a Hefty Price Tag
Plain and simple, trading four players and four draft picks is a huge amount to give no matter who you're getting in return. Yes, the Nuggets are getting Carmelo Anthony and others, but they're giving up Devin Harris, Derrick Favors and others.
I can see adding a draft pick, maybe two, to cancel everything out, but in the end, it's five players for four players and four picks, which is about as big a commitment as it sounds. If it doesn't work out perfectly, then you can't rely on the draft now to help out.
Yes 1: They'll Get Carmelo Anthony
This sounds redundant, but the fact of the matter is if those draft picks are the difference between the Nets getting Carmelo or not, then they might as well hand them over. They've been trying their hardest to bring Anthony, and if they are that close to bringing him to New Jersey, a couple draft picks are not going to stop them.
No 1: Picks More Valuable with New CBA
Perhaps the most significant reason that trading these picks could backfire goes off on the other reasons they shouldn't and complements them. Should a new collective bargaining agreement be signed, then Carmelo would get a smaller payday in free agency, as would others.
Because players would be getting less, draft picks would become a lot more valuable, and teams could get more for them. Suddenly, the four picks that the Nets gave to the Nuggets are worth a lot more in the upcoming offseason than they are now, and that part of the trade could look bad in hindsight.
Conclusion
Should the Nets be giving these picks to the Nuggets when it's all said and done? That's a very tough question, actually, after all the above points are looked at. In the end though, I think it's necessary for the Nets to do.
It helps both sides, since the Nuggets can now restock their roster with those four extra draft picks, and the Nets can concentrate on the free-agent process instead of grooming draft picks. This is conditional on Carmelo actually being able to bring more talent to New Jersey though, because they won't win anything with the roster they'll have should this trade be finalized.